Tractor ski



April 21, 1959 J. J. TCMASOVICH 2,833,204

TRACTOR SKI Filed Feb. 18, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig./

Jaseph J. Tomasow'ch INVENTOR.

1 BY gum April21,1959 J. J. TomAsdvlcjH 2,883,204

TRACTCR SKI Filed Feb. 18,, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l I! I I IIHW I H l? #4 lg Joseph J. Tamasow'ch INVENTOR.

United States Patent Office TRACTOR SKI Joseph J. Tomasovich, Tony, Wis. Application February 18, 1957, Serial No. 640,673

8 Claims. (Cl. 280-13) This invention comprises a novel and useful tractor ski and more specifically relates to a ski attachment adapted to be secured to the front wheel assembly of conven-- tional tricycle type tractors.

The primary purpose of this invention is to provide a ski attachment which will be quickly and easily applied to or removed from the front wheel assembly of converttional tricycle type tractors to better adapt the latter for use in snow and the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a ski attachment in accordance with the preceding object which will have animproved construction specifically adapted to conform wand cooperate with the particular shape of the twin wheels forming a front Wheel assembly or tricy'cle type tractors 1 whereby to more effectively position the ski attachment upon the" front wheel assembly and to prevent both lateral and longitudinal relative movement of the ski attachment with respect to the front wheel assembly.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a ski attachment as set forthin the preceding objects which shall include a retaining means serving the combined functions of detachably clamping or looking the ski upon the front wheel assembly and facilitatingthe movement of the front wheel assembly upon the ski attachment for clamping the latterthereon.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed; reference-being had to' the accompanying drawings forming a part; hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view showing the front portion of a conventional type of tricycle tractor and illustrating the manner in which the ski attachment is detachably clamped thereon;

Figure 2 is atop plan view of the ski attachment, with the retaining means being shown in its opened position to facilitate movement of the front Wheel assembly of a tractor thereon; I W

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the ski attachment in the positionshown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a vertical, transverse, sectional View taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4-4 of Figure 2 and upon a slightly enlarged scale, and showing especially the arrangement of the guide means for positioning the wheels of a tractor front wheel assembly thereon, a portion of the tractor wheels being shown in dotted lines therein;

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the attachment of Figures 2 and 3; and

Figure 6 is a detailed view in vertical, longitudinal section showing in full lines the manner in which the retaining means is latched and in dotted lines the manner in which the retaining means is pivoted downwardly into the position shown in Figure 3.

The use of tractors of the conventional tricycle type and which have a front wheel assembly consisting of a 2,883,204 Patented Apr. 21, 1959 pair of wheels disposed in close, side-by-side relation can be greatly enhanced by providing a ski attachment for the front wheels to thereby render the tractor more maneuverable in snow and the like. For such an attach- Ihent to be practical, it is necessary that the same shall be of a very sturdy construction and yet may be easily applied to or removed from the wheels, especially in inclement weather.

The ski attachment in accordance with thisinvention, as shown especially in Figures 2-4, is indicated generally by the numeral 10 and includes a fiat base 12 of any suitable material, such as wood, metal or the like, which at its forward end is upwardly curved, as at 13, into the usual configuration of a ski. Upon the bottom surface of the hat base 12there is mounted a pair of runners 14, each disposed adjacent the longitudinal side edge of the base and extending the entire longitudinal length of the latter. These runners may likewise be of any suitable construction and are preferably secured to the base as bycountersunk rivets or other fasteners 16, as shown in Figure 4.

Upon the forward portion ofthe top surface of the base there is provided a flat reinforcing plate 18 of metal or other suitable construction and which at its forward end 20 is upwardly curving in accordance with the contour of the forward portion 13 of the base. Suitable fasteners 22 of any desired character may be employed for securing this reinforcing plate to the top surface of the base.

Disposed at a position whicliis preferably closely adjacent to the mid-portion of the base is an upstanding stop means 24 which may conveniently comprise a metal channet member having a vertical web portion 26 providing a flat surface which extends transversely of the base and across the entire width of the same and which further is provided with forwardly projecting, horizontally extending flanges 28 and 30, the former serving as a means for securing the stop means to the base. A pair of braces in the form of metal straps 32 are provided, the same having angularly' disposed extremities $4 and 36 which are respectively secured to the reinforcing plate 18 and, if desired, also to the base by means of the fasteners 38. Any suitable fasteners may be employed for securing the angulated end port-ion 36 to the vertical surface of the stop means 24 immediately" below the top flange 30, as will be apparent in Figure l. p

A guide means indicated generally by the numeral 40 is provided immediately rearwardly of the stop means 24 and ektends longitudinally of and projects upwardly from the top surface of the base. The guide means is adapted to be' received between the twin wheels 42 forming the from wheel assembly of the tractor, whereby to position the latter laterally of the base and prevent relative lateral movement between the front wheel assembly and guide means and base.

Conveniently, the guide means 40 comprises a pair of 'jplat'e-like members, each consisting of an upwardly pro- 'cti'ng and longitudinally eiitendingja'ck plate 44. As will be best apparent from Figure 2, and as also shown in Figure 3, the plate-like members 44 are slightly inclined with respect to each other and are rearwardly convergent, whereby when the Wheel assembly of a tractor is rolled forward upon the same, the forward divergence of the plate-like members will firmly engage the sides of the inclined Wheels 42.

At their lower edges, the plate-like members are provided with out-turned, horizontal flanges 46 which are preferably secured to the base by the above mentioned fasteners 16. It will be understood, however, that separate fasteners can be provided for this purpose if desired.

At their forward vertical edges, the plate-like members 44 are provided with laterally projecting, out-turned flanges 48 which are adapted to abut against and be se-- cured to the vertical surface of the web 26 of the stop means 24, as by suitable fasteners 50.

It will be particularly noted that at their forward ends, the plate-like members 44 have upwardly projecting portions 52, which as shown in Figure I serve to effectively embrace the wheels 42 at about the mid-portion of their vertical height.

Referring once more to Figure 4, it will be seen that the opposite vertical outside surfaces of the plate-like members 44 are outwardly inclined, being upwardly divergent. This inclination with respect to the vertical is for the purpose of enabling the plates to accommodate themselves to the vertical tilting or inclination of the wheels 42 in accordance with the customary construction of the latter.

At its rear edge, the base 12 has secured thereto an angle-iron member 54 by means of suitable fasteners 56, and which member carries a pair of rearwardly projecting hinges 58. A retaining means, preferably consisting of a fiat plate 60, is secured to these hinges for vertical pivoting movement as will be seen by comparing the full and dotted line showings in Figure 6. At its outer edge, which is remote from the hinges 58, the plate 60 is provided with a down-turned flange 62 of substantially the same thickness as that of the base and which serves as a means for anchoring the ski in order to enable the front wheel assembly of a tractor to be driven thereon.

The retaining means 60 is further provided with a vertically elongated slot 64 for the reception of the hook portion 66 of a latch consisting of a lever 68 pivoted between the upper rearward ends of the plate-like members 44 as by a pivot pin 70.

From the foregoing, it is believed the operation of the attachment will now be readily understood. In order to apply the device to a tractor, even in inclement weather, it is merely necessary to positionthe device as shown in Figure 2 immediately in advance of the front Wheel assembly of a tractor. When a tractor is then driven forward, the two wheels of the assembly will travel upon the plate 60, will straddle the rearward ends of the platelike members 44 of the guide means, and upon further forward movement will be tightly engaged by the guide means. Thereafter, the plate 60 may be lifted, causing the hook 66 of the latch 68 to engage in the locking slot 64, the device being then in the position shown in Figure 1. It will be observed at this time that the front portions of the wheels of the front wheel assembly will abut against the stop means 24 on the vertical surface 26 thereof and will be tightly engaged by the outer surfaces of the portions 52 of the plate-like members 44. At the same time, the upper portion of the retaining plate 60 will engage the rear portion of thewheels 42 slightly above their center and by means of latch 68 will thus clamp the wheel assembly upon the ski.

In order to remove the device, it is merely necessary to disengage the latch, pivot the retainer plate 60 downwardly and then back the tractor off the ski.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative-only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous 4 modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A ski attachment for the front wheel assembly of tricycle type tractors comprising an elongated fiat base upwardly curving at its forward end, longitudinally extending guide means on said base for positioning a tractor front wheel assembly laterally of the latter, a stop means and a retaining means on said base for respectively engaging the front and rear portions of a tractor front wheel assembly, a latch for engagement with said retaining means and cooperating with the latter to clamp a tractor front wheel assembly to said base, said guide means including a pair of upwardly projecting plate-like members disposed in side-by-side relation and extending longitudinally of said base and being rearwardly convergent thereof and terminating in inwardly spaced relation to the opposite ends of said base.

2 The combination of claim 1 wherein said members have their opposite outer surfaces upwardly divergent.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said stop means comprises a transverse plate secured to and extending laterally beyond said plate-like members and secured to said base.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said plate-like members include outturned flanges at their lower ends secured to said base.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said plate-like members include at their forward vertical edges outturned laterally projecting flanges secured to said stop means.

, 6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said plate-like members include at their forward vertical edges outturned laterally projecting flanges secured to said stop means.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said plate-like members have their forward portions projecting upward from their remainder.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said retaining member comprises a plate hinged to the rear end of said base and being laterally coextensive therewith, said plate having a longitudinally extending medially disposed slot, said latch being engageable in said slot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

